The Plzeň Region is the Czech Republic’s third largest region in terms of area. Since its origin Plzeň(Pilsen), a city founded by order of King Wenceslas II of Bohemia at the confl uence of the Radbuza,Mže, Úhlava, and Úslava Rivers in 1295, has been the natural centre of the Region. The industrial andtechnological development of Plzeň started in the middle of the 19th century, and step by step it becameone of the most important cities in the country. At present, Plzeň is the fourth largest Czech city. It has167 000 inhabitants, more than 30% of the population of the Plzeň Region.